‘Star Wars’ Fan Has 63,000 Darth Vader Items

Bill McBride first saw Star Wars when he was 6&nbsp;years old, back in 1977, and even then, he knew exactly who his favorite character was: Darth Vader.</span>” data-reactid=”25″>Bill McBride first saw Star Wars when he was 6 years old, back in 1977, and even then, he knew exactly who his favorite character was: Darth Vader.

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“I was immediately enamored with the character when he came out on screen,” says McBride. “I think as a kid, especially when you’re 6, he just looked cool, he sounded cool. The suit, the voice, the way he carried himself, the mystery of the character.”</span>” data-reactid=”27″>“I was immediately enamored with the character when he came out on screen,” says McBride. “I think as a kid, especially when you’re 6, he just looked cool, he sounded cool. The suit, the voice, the way he carried himself, the mystery of the character.”

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Today, McBride lives in Washington, D.C., and works as a rocket scientist (really), but he’s best known for his Darth Vader collection, the largest in the world, with 63,000 different items.</span>” data-reactid=”29″>Today, McBride lives in Washington, D.C., and works as a rocket scientist (really), but he’s best known for his Darth Vader collection, the largest in the world, with 63,000 different items.

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His collection includes movie props…</span>” data-reactid=”31″>His collection includes movie props…

An original Darth Vader prop from “Star Wars: A New Hope”

Toys…</span>” data-reactid=”43″>Toys…

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Darth Vader collectibles come in all shapes and sizes.

Original storyboards from the films…</span>” data-reactid=”56″>Original storyboards from the films…

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Darth Vader memorabilia from the McBride collection.

And unusual&nbsp;items, like a Darth Vader condom.</span>” data-reactid=”69″>And unusual items, like a Darth Vader condom.

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Yep, that’s a Darth Vader-themed condom.

McBride still has the figures he got when he was a kid, and he says those figures led him to being the collector that he is today.</span>” data-reactid=”82″>McBride still has the figures he got when he was a kid, and he says those figures led him to being the collector that he is today.

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“When Johnny and Bobby and little Billy got together to go play Star Wars, and we all had our toys, I always left my Vader at home, because I didn’t want to wreck him,” says McBride.&nbsp;“That was probably the first inklings of being a collector when I was a little guy.”</span>” data-reactid=”84″>“When Johnny and Bobby and little Billy got together to go play Star Wars, and we all had our toys, I always left my Vader at home, because I didn’t want to wreck him,” says McBride.“That was probably the first inklings of being a collector when I was a little guy.”

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Today, McBride has over 100 different Darth Vader action figures, and he says that while the figures themselves may be similar or even identical, the packaging for each is different.</span>” data-reactid=”86″>Today, McBride has over 100 different Darth Vader action figures, and he says that while the figures themselves may be similar or even identical, the packaging for each is different.

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That’s a lot of unopened Darth Vader action figures.

McBride says the most he has ever spent was in the five-figure range. As for how much he’s spent over the years?</span>” data-reactid=”99″>McBride says the most he has ever spent was in the five-figure range. As for how much he’s spent over the years?

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“Probably the general answer is too much,” he says.</span>” data-reactid=”101″>“Probably the general answer is too much,” he says.

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McBride acknowledges being obsessed, but says he thinks that comes with being serious about what you do.</span>” data-reactid=”103″>McBride acknowledges being obsessed, but says he thinks that comes with being serious about what you do.

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“I think to be successful in anything you do, there is absolutely a level of deliberation and obsessiveness,” he says. “You will never succeed in anything you do if you’re not obsessive about what you do.”</span>” data-reactid=”105″>“I think to be successful in anything you do, there is absolutely a level of deliberation and obsessiveness,” he says. “You will never succeed in anything you do if you’re not obsessive about what you do.”

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McBride says he’ll quit collecting if he ever stops enjoying it.&nbsp;</span> “Really, at the end of the day,” he says, “it’s whether or not you have fun.”” data-reactid=”107″>McBride says he’ll quit collecting if he ever stops enjoying it. “Really, at the end of the day,” he says, “it’s whether or not you have fun.”

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What’s your #Obsession? Share it on&nbsp;our brand-new Flickr group! You might be featured in an upcoming episode of Yahoo’s&nbsp;#Obsessed.” data-reactid=”109″>What’s your #Obsession? Share it on our brand-new Flickr group! You might be featured in an upcoming episode of Yahoo’s #Obsessed.